Thirty six (36) City/District Nutrition Program Coordinators from all over Metro Manila together with NNC-NCR NPC Mila V. Federizo and technical staff travelled all the way to Naga City for their 2016 Study Tour and Teambuilding activities anchored on the theme: “Better. Bolder. Stronger. Forever.” held on January 20-22, 2016. The Association of Metro Manila C/DNPCs with the support from the NNC-NCR yearly conducts a Study Tour in areas with good NPM practices where they can learn from and observe nutrition strategies that they can adopt in their respective localities.
Naga City was chosen as the study tour site because of its distinction of being one of the first local government units to receive the Nutrition Honor Award, the highest award given by the National Nutrition Council to a local government unit for their outstanding efforts in nutrition program management. Naga City got the award in 1998 and managed to sustain their good nutrition program management through the years.
City Nutrition Committee Vice-Chair and City Councilor for Nutrition Hon. Cecilia V. De Asis welcomed the group on behalf of City Nutrition Action Officer Ms. Teresita Del Castillo. City Nutrition Program Coordinator Raquel B. Buere oriented the group on their city nutrition programs and shared their strategies in sustaining their efficient and effective management of local nutrition programs.
Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Milagros Elisa V. Federizo and C/DNPC Association President Eileen S. Guevara thanked Mayor John G. Bongat for the warm accommodation and kind hospitality extended to them. The participants visited the Breastfeeding Center, City Population and Nutrition Office and the Nutrimix Processing Center.
To observe the good NPM practices at the barangay level, the group went to Barangays Panicuason and Carolina where they were warmly welcomed by the Barangay Nutrition Committees led by the Barangay Chairpersons Domingo L. Ramos and Alicia Saba, respectively. The group was oriented on the nutrition programs and innovative projects in the barangay by Barangay Nutrition Scholars Jocelyn Buena of Brgy. Panicuason and Malou Jimenez of Brgy. Carolina. The group saw that indeed, the leadership of the BNC Chair and the active BNSs are important ingredients to the success of the nutrition program in the barangay.
The group also visited the lactation station at the People’s Mall being managed by the Naga City Public Market Stallholders'Federation (NAMASFED). Since this has not been done in any of the LGUs in Metro Manila, the C/DNPCs appreciated how Naga City was able to put up and maintain a breastfeeding station in the market. The BF station is manned by market stall owners trained on IYCF who also counsel and assist breastfeeding mothers who visit the station.
For their teambuilding activities, the group went to Camsur Watersports Complex in Pili, Camarines Sur. Through the teambuilding exercises facilitated by RNPC Mila Federizo, NO III Meren Francia and NO II Thesa Rivas, the group had the opportunity to be acquainted and re-acquainted with each other and became committed to make the Association better, bolder and stronger.
To appreciate the beauty of the Bicol Region, the group went to Penafrancia Minor Basilica, Hoyop-hoyopan Cave, Cagsawa Ruins, Embarcadero, Legazpi Boulevard and Daraga Church.
The group was truly inspired and challenged by what they have seen, observed and experienced in their study tour. Filled with happy bonding moments and new learnings, the long hours of travel to and from Naga City were all worth it. (TAR/NPC MEVF/NNCNCR)
